The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-28
THE STRIKE ENDED.
ON THE READING RAILROAD,
Tho Mon Voluntarily Return to Work-Ths
ohlolais OF tho Road Say II 10 an Unoon.
ditionnl Surrender on tho Part Of tho
Knights : ConnlctiuE Rsports.

PHILADELPHIA Dec. 27.-The Executive
Committee Of the Reading railroad en-.
ployes assembly early this morning, after
secret session which lasted several
hours, decided to Lift the great strike on
the Reading system pending arbitration
with tho company. The five crews over
whom the trouble originated arc to be
supported In tho meantime by financial
aid from the employees.
The decision was reached alter confer
encs With Superintendent Swsigard at bis
office last night. The committee then re-.
turned to their meeting place In Port
Richmond, and after several hours dis.
cussion decided to submit their case to
arbitration. In the afternoon motion
had been carried to propose arbitration to
the officials. Mr.. Sweigard met the com.
mittee graciously and assured them that
such plan would be entirely agreeable
to the Reading railroad. There were
present fourteen members Of the Commit
tee representing all sections OF the road.
Tho decision OF the Knighta In Reading
yesterday not to strike is supposed to have
had some influence upon the action Of tho
Board. 5 ~
SIDE ISSUES WILL De suSK.
One ofthe committee said this morning:
"We decided that 1t would be lar better to
pay the FIVE striking crews their wages
rather than jeopardise SO many interests.
In this city MI. swe!gard has always
treated US squarely and We feel that We
can trust him. All side Issues will be
sunk and only tho main point in dispute
will be srbitrated upon. We have not
yet agreed upon the time or method Of
arbitration. That will DO settled at the
convenience of both sides; but as speedily
as possible we have sent telsgrams to all
our assemblies to resume work at once.
We feel that the public will declare our
decision a wise one, especially since the
city might be 80 seriously affected at the
present time We do not anticipate any
difficulty in settling the matter"
All trains are moving on the Reading
railroad this morning and no iurther trou-
BILE is anticipated. Nearly all the en-
ployea reported for duty promptly at 7
o'clock at the various depots and freight
yards, as we'll as those employed in the
coal wharves st Port Richmond. The
work Of moving the coal trains and trans.
ferring the coal from the cars to the vessels
at the wharf was at once begun, and there
was very little evidence Of the great
strike which for the past few days has
threatened to paralyzs the business Of the
entire Reading railroad syatem. Quite a
number Of employee in the various
branches failed to report, but ths officials
state that these have perhaps been cole.
brating Christmas too enthusiastically,
and that their places will be kept open for
them few days.
NOTHING TO ARsITRATE.
General Superintendent 6weigard said
this morning that the statement that he
had agreed with the knights Of Labor to
submit the questions in dispute to arbitra-
ton was incorrect. He said that last
evening committee representing the en-
ployes Of the company called at his office
and he talked with them briefly regard
ing the threatened strike. ,Heheld out no
inducements to the men, however, and
would listen to no proposition which had
for its object the reinstatement of the men
who had been discharged for refusing to
deliver cars to Taylor's elevator. These
men, he said, had been discharged and
will never again be employed by the
company. He says no agreement was
proposed either by the committee or by
him, and that the committee left when he
informed them that he would hold no
conversation regarding the discharged
men. -; -
The reporter at this point asked Mr..
Sweigard whether he proposed to take the
Port Richmond difficulty and submit any
questions involved therein to arbitration,
to which he tersely replied: "There ia
nothing to gubmit. ~ 3
NO DlscHARGED MEN NEED APPLY,
"There is one thing in connection with
this subject that may as well be disposed
Of while We are on it. The employees. or
some of them, have accused tho company
OF not Lying up to article Is OF the agree
ment entered into with the men last win
ter, which was to the effect that no man
should be discharged without first being
given a hearing. Well, about two months
ago, three brakemen refused to 20 out on
q train because one Of the men, a con.
tractor, was not knight of Labor: I dis
charged the three men, and when a COM
mittee called on me and begged for their
reinstatement, told them that the com
pany did not propose to re.employ men
who lett their work under such circum.
stances. The committee, ,consisting Of John
Lee, Oahill and sharkey, followed me all
over Port Richmond and pleaded their
cause. Finally, I agreed to reinBtate the
men after suspension OF three months,
upon this condition: That the committee
should 60 before every aesembly of the
order and say to the membera that here.
after any employe who refused to perform
duty when ordered by an official, such
employs should be discharged, and they
(the Knights OF Labor) should not appoint
any committee to seek an adjustment Of
the matter or require any explanation.
Now, when I instructed the men at Port
Richmond to deliver the cars consigned to
tha Tavlor elavaknr and thav rafngn5 r